Photomator and Pixelmator Pro add custom auto-straightening

Claiming a five-fold improvement in accuracy, image editing developer Pixelmator has replaced Apple's straightening tool with its own for both Pixelmator Pro and Photomator.

Pixelmator Pro for the Mac is a regularly updated all-round image editor, while Photomator — previously called Pixelmator Photo — is more specifically for photography. Now the company has updated its photo straightening tools in updates to both apps.

"Auto Straighten has been completely redesigned," says the company, "now offering 5x more precision, particularly in images with unclear horizons and low-quality images."

That 5x figure is based on the developer taking 166 images that already had a straight horizon, and then rotating each of them anywhere up to plus or minus 10 degrees. The company next straightened each image using both the Apple Vision framework and its own new algorithm.

In AppleInsider testing, Photomator correctly straightened images even when there was no discernible horizon to work from.

A bustling outdoor Christmas market with people gathering under illuminated decorations, a large arch, and festive lights in front of a church at dusk.

Left: Budapest market before straightening. Right: Straightened.

Part of improving the auto-straightening feature was to make it easier to find and use. In Photomator, Auto-Straighten is under the Crop tool right on the canvas, for instance.

Photomator 3.3.22 for Mac is available with a free trial on the Mac App Store. It costs either $100 for a lifetime license, or from $4.99 per month as a subscription.

Pixelmator Pro costs $50 from the Mac App Store, and is a one-time purchase.